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Nozzle size

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Scotth48
Scotth48 Member Posts: 2
in Oil Heating
Replacing my oil fired boiler with the same 4 section unit but a different brand. My house is about 1300 sq ft on each floor for a total of 2600. My old boiler came with a 1.25 nozzle and we used a 1.0 nozzle without any problems. 
The new burner uses a 1.5 nozzle for a 200,000btu rating. 
Can I go smaller on the nozzle size that would be more in line with the old boiler? 1.0-1.25 gallon.

Thanks.

Comments

  • bburd
    bburd Member Posts: 1,199
    edited December 2023
    Your new boiler is too big. How was it sized? If the house did fine burning 1 gallon per hour you don't need a boiler that can burn 1.5 unless you are planning a very large addition.

    Steam boilers are sized by measuring the radiators. Hot water boilers are sized by calculating building heat loss.
    —
    Bburd
    HVACNUT
  • SuperTech
    SuperTech Member Posts: 2,621
    Wow. Are you heating the house with all the windows open? How was the boiler size determined? A 3 section would have been more than enough.

    As far as the nozzle goes, the manufacturer usually specifies a few different firing rates depending on oil pump pressure and nozzle size. But you need to perform a combustion analysis after changing nozzles or else you can't be sure the burner is operating properly or safely.
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,089
    2,600 sq ft and approximately 160,000 net BTU, that's about 60 BTU per sq ft which would be excellent if you lived on Pluto.

    Go with the 3 section. 
    What make and model? What burner?
    jesmed1
  • STEVEusaPA
    STEVEusaPA Member Posts: 6,505
    HVACNUT said:

    ...would be excellent if you lived on Pluto...

    I don't know of an additive that would keep the fuel from gelling down to -387°F

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

    HVACNUTCanuckerMikeAmann
  • jesmed1
    jesmed1 Member Posts: 1,260
    Just for comparison, my 4800 sq ft, 100 yr old condo building in the Boston area could be heated by a 1.0 gph input rate with margin to spare.

    As others have said, unless you are somewhere above the Arctic Circle, you have way more capacity than you need.
  • Grallert
    Grallert Member Posts: 1,000
    This is an extremely oversized boiler which makes me question the installer.

    Miss Hall's School service mechanic, greenhouse manager, teacher, dog walker and designated driver

    SuperTechMikeAmann

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